Superintendent of Schools Tom Geary presented an update to the FY27 budget, which cuts the yearly increase from 4.9% to 4.3%, at a recent School Committee meeting.
Geary said Town officials originally outlined a 4% increase in the annual budget; however, this recommendation was updated to represent a 3.7% increase. This cuts $100,000 from the budget increase at 4%.
He previously presented a 4.9% increase to the Committee; however, after receiving updates from town officials, Geary has decreased his recommendation.
Geary will present the budget to the Select Board in two weeks, he said.
In his new recommendation, $120,000 was reduced from out-of-district tuition and transportation.
He said new student data regarding out-of-district tuition and transportation was favorable for the district, and funds were able to be cut from the allocation.
Additionally, Geary discussed the computer science and digital literacy teaching position, which represented $86,000.
“I’d love to be able to keep this in the budget,” he said.
He added, “I still fully believe it is an important ask as a continuum for K-12 digital literacy and learning, and for preparing students for the future, which will be a major area for our strategic plan. But in reviewing our requests and considering where we are in the budget process, I’d like to see what we can do with our current resources at the middle school and what could be adjusted in this area before more funding is requested.”
Geary also updated the budget to include a fifth-grade teacher at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School.
“This is something I really wrestled with,” he said.
In Geary’s previous recommendation to the Committee, he had allocated funds for four grade-three classrooms. Currently, there are five grade-three classrooms at the elementary school.
“It became clear to me that the best thing to do for kids, and financially, is to remain at five classrooms next year,” he said.
For capital projects, Geary said he will be recommending a reduction of the allocation for technology to $325,000.
The allocation includes funds for Chromebooks, laptops, SMART panels, networking, PA systems, and phone systems.
He said he will also be requesting a $100,000 funding request for the Summer Street Playground in addition to the $100,000 to be fundraised.
